On Saturday afternoon (29th), the RCDE Stadium hosted an intense and evenly matched battle between Espanyol and Atlético de Madrid, as part of Matchday 29 of La Liga 2024/25. In a clash where every detail mattered, Espanyol showed great resilience and managed to secure a 1–1 draw, frustrating Atlético’s hopes of staying firmly in the title race.
Atlético Madrid started stronger, dominating possession (61%) and being more aggressive in attack, with 13 attempts compared to Espanyol’s 8, and 2–1 in shots on target. Their superiority paid off in the 38th minute, when Azpilicueta stepped up with precision. After a cross from the right was cleared by the defense, he struck a first time shot from outside the box into the top left corner a stunning goal with no chance for the goalkeeper.
Even trailing and with only 39% of possession, Espanyol showed grit and refused to back down. Pushed forward by their home crowd and relying on quick transitions, the team grew stronger in the second half. Their persistence paid off in the 71st minute, when Javi Puado calmly converted a penalty, leveling the score and setting the stadium alight.
The match ended with balanced stats in terms of intensity: 2 yellow cards for Espanyol versus 1 for Atlético, and 4 corners against 3 for the visitors. Despite a solid performance, the draw felt bitter for Atlético de Madrid, who now sit at 57 points and see their title aspirations slip further away especially after their previous stumble against Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Espanyol celebrates a valuable point in their fight against relegation, proving they still have the strength to battle through the final rounds of the season.
